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2 Kings 20:10

Hezekiah

8 Now Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the house of the LORD on the third day?”

9 And Isaiah had replied, “This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: Would you like the shadow to go forward ten steps, or back ten steps?”

“It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps,” answered Hezekiah, “but not for it to go back ten steps.”

11 So Isaiah the prophet called out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow back the ten steps it had descended on the stairway of Ahaz.

12 At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard about Hezekiah’s illness.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps,” answered Hezekiah, “but not for it to go back ten steps.”
KJV
And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
WEB
Hezekiah answered, “It is a light thing for the shadow to go forward ten steps. No, but let the shadow return backward ten steps.”
ASV
And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to decline ten steps: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten steps.
DARBY
And Hezekiah said, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: no, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
BLB
And Hezekiah answered, “It is light for the shadow to lengthen ten degrees. No, but let the shadow go backward ten degrees.”
ÅB
Hiskia sa: Det er en lett sak for skyggen å strekke seg ti streker fram; nei, skyggen skal gå ti streker tilbake.
OTB
Så svarte Hiskia, "Det er lett for skyggen å gå ned ti trinn; nei, men la den gå tilbake ti trinn."
B1930
Esekias sa: Det er en lett sak for skyggen å strekke sig ti streker frem; nei, skyggen skal gå ti streker tilbake.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Kings 2:10

    “You have requested a difficult thing,” said Elijah. “Nevertheless, if you see me as I am taken from you, it will be yours. But if not, then it will not be so.”

    Read in context

  • 2 Kings 3:18

    This is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD, and He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.

    Read in context

  • John 14:12

    Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 49:6

    He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

    Read in context

  • Mark 9:28–29

    After Jesus had gone into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

    Read in context